The German Chancellor’s just conclude three-day visit has marked a shift in bilateral relationship between Berlin and New Delhi, elevating it from a mere transactional engagement to a more profound transformational partnership
The recent visit (Oct 24-26) of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to New Delhi has sparked optimism regarding the potential for a renewed strategic alignment between these two democratic powers.
This visit signifies a pivotal moment, as both countries seek to enhance their collaboration in response to the rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape.
The intent to foster closer cooperation was prominently reflected in the various public declarations and agreements made during Scholz's third visit to India since he became Chancellor in 2021.
However, a significant shift in Germany's perspective towards India was markedly seen in the document titled as “Focus on India,” which was published by Berlin just a week before the Chancellor's arrival.
Departing from its previous critical assessment of Indian democracy, Germany through the document portrays India as a vital democratic ally in promoting stability and security in the world.
Furthermore, it emphasizes the necessity for Germany to become a dependable security partner for India, advocating for an expansion of defence cooperation, enhancing the reliability of arms export controls, and encouraging collaboration between German and Indian defence industries.
Defence and security partnership
Germany, which played a pivotal role in exporting and assisting in the construction of HDW submarines in India during the early 1990s, is now keen to collaborate with India in the production of next-generation submarines within the country.
In a recent statement, Chancellor Scholz reaffirmed Germany's commitment to enhancing cooperation in defence matters and fostering closer ties between the armed forces of both nations.
To this end, India and Germany have agreed to establish a Memorandum of Arrangement aimed at facilitating mutual logistics support and exchanges, which will serve to further strengthen their defence and security relationship.
These developments suggest that any previous reservations regarding deeper defence collaboration with India among German leaders and bureaucrats have diminished. To advance their defence partnership, the two nations have initiated official-level discussions to explore avenues for bolstering defence industrial cooperation.
Recognizing defence as a fundamental component of their strategic partnership, they have also established a high-level defence committee (HDC) dedicated to promoting collaborative efforts in this sector.
The discussions held on October 25 between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chancellor Scholz have yielded significant outcomes, encapsulated in eight comprehensive documents that span various sectors, including the economy, defence, and security.
Pivotal shift in India-Germany partnership
This development marks a pivotal shift in the nature of their bilateral relationship, elevating it from a mere transactional engagement to a more profound transformational partnership.
The leaders have successfully reinvigorated bilateral interactions across multiple domains, including government, industry, civil society, and academia, thereby enhancing and solidifying the strategic alliance between these two major economies.
Chancellor Scholz's visit has indeed ushered in a new chapter of economic and strategic collaboration between India and Germany. Notably, the increase in the annual visa quota from 20,000 to 90,000 underscores Germany's confidence in the capabilities of Indian skilled professionals.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the strengthening of ties in defence and security, which was characterized by him as a testament to their deep-seated mutual trust. The agreements concerning the exchange of classified information and the mutual legal assistance treaty are poised to significantly bolster the two nations' efforts in combating crime and terrorism effectively.
The seventh session of the India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC), co-chaired by Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor Scholz, addressed a wide array of topics of shared significance.
These discussions encompassed areas such as technology and innovation, labour and talent, migration and mobility, climate action, and sustainable development, alongside economic, defence, and strategic collaboration.
These elements are poised to serve as fundamental pillars of a comprehensive partnership that includes trade, investment, defence, scientific and technological advancements, renewable energy, emerging technologies, development cooperation, sustainable resource management, biodiversity, climate resilience, and the strengthening of people-to-people ties.
A partnership for global good
Prime Minister Modi emphasized that the collaboration between two of the world's foremost economies has the potential to serve as a powerful catalyst for global good.
The discussions highlighted a shared perspective on several contentious matters, including the need for reform within the United Nations Security Council, the importance of upholding the rule of law, and ensuring freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region.
Additionally, the dialogue encompassed critical issues such as the situations in Ukraine and West Asia.
Both nations reaffirmed their dedication to strengthening defence and security partnerships while advocating for a free, open, inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, grounded in international law, mutual respect for sovereignty, and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
This statement can be interpreted as a subtle yet significant message directed towards China, indicating that both Germany and India share aligned views regarding China's expansionist policies and aggressive actions in the South China Sea.
In this context, the two countries notably highlighted that enhancing the India-EU strategic partnership would yield benefits not only for their respective nations but also for the global community at large.
The joint statement issued following the Modi-Scholz summit underscored Germany's increasing involvement in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in matters of security and cooperation.
Furthermore, it stressed the critical importance of the Indo-Pacific for both prosperity and security, as well as for effectively addressing pressing global challenges. Germany's renewed interest in India is poised to elevate their strategic partnership to a status comparable to that of other prominent European nations, such as France.
Conclusion
As a significant economic force and a key player within the European Union, Germany occupies a unique position in India's international engagement strategies.
The recent visit by Chancellor Scholz underscored the acknowledgment of India's increasing influence and its pivotal role in global forums.
It is essential for both Asian and European powers to harness their collective capabilities and collaborate effectively to uphold the principles of rule of law, as well as to foster global peace, stability, and prosperity.
***The writer is a senior journalist and strategic affairs analyst; views expressed here are his own